Kuk Sool Won

Kuk Sool Won™ is a systematic study of all of the traditional fighting arts, which together comprise martial arts history of the Korean nation. As such Kuk Sool Won™ is an extremely well-organized system of martial arts which seeks to integrate and explore all aspects of the traditional Korean martial arts.

As a martial arts system, Kuk Sool Won™ covers the entire spectrum of the traditional Asian fighting arts and techniques of body conditioning, as well as mental development and traditional weapons training. These include (but are not limited to):

• Hand Striking: closed and open hand striking methods, palm, wrist, and finger striking, blocking and parrying, animal- techniques, pressure point striking, striking with arm and shoulder, specialized palm training, arm striking, shoulder technique, etc.

• Leg Techniques: foundation kicking, front leg kicking, spinning kicks, jumping kicks, combination kicking, jump spinning kicks, double leg kicking, kicking defense, pressure point kicking, specialty kicking, etc.

• Throwing and Grappling: body throws, projection throws, wrestling techniques, leg throws, ground fighting, pressure point grappling, grappling defense, etc.

• Joint-Locking Techniques: pain throws, arresting and "come along" techniques, restraining methods, joint breaking techniques, control and re-direction techniques, combination joint locking, etc.

• Falling Techniques and Acrobatics: body protection techniques, throwing defense, acrobatics for body conditioning and agility, acrobatics for defense and offense, etc.

• Body Conditioning: stretching and flexibility training, cardiovascular conditioning, muscle training, joint flexibility and bone conditioning. Animal-Style Techniques: techniques based on the movements and/or characteristics of certain "martial" animals such as Tiger, Praying Mantis, Crane, Dragon, Bear, etc.

• Traditional Korean Weapons: straight sword, inverted sword, double sword, double short sword, pole, jool bong (nunchaku), short stick, double short stick, spear, cane, belt, folding, fan, etc. (There are 24 different traditional Korean Royal Court weapons in the curriculum of Kuk Sool Won™) plus Buddhist- and family weaponry.

• Martial Art Healing Methods: (beginning at Instructor Level) acupressure, acupuncture, internal energy systems, herbal medicine, etc.

As you can see, Kuk Sool Won™ covers an extensive variety of techniques and martial art methods, but it is not merely concerned with the physical methods of attack and defense: Kuk Sool Won™ includes the study of healing techniques, the development of internal power, and physical conditioning. Training in Kuk Sool Won™ also helps to instill self-confidence and self-discipline, a calm self-assurance, and the psychological and spiritual values, which are traditionally associated with the martial character. Mental and physical well-being are of primary importance in Kuk Sool.

Although Kuk Sool as it is practiced today is relatively new, its roots stretch far and deep to the very beginnings of the history of Korea. As students of Kuk Sool, this early history and the ancient traditions upon which our art is founded should be as important to us as the physical techniques themselves, for it is only from our understanding and appreciation of these classical roots that we are able to grow as students of the martial arts.

Main site: [World Kuk Sool Won Association (http://www.kuksoolwon.com)].